Shield for automobile hoods



May 21, 1929.

a. L. SHELLEY ,SHIELD FOR AUTOMOBILE HOODS Filed Jan. 20, 1928 351 Ami/2min? itagene /zef/e f Patented May 21, 1929.

EUGENE L. SHELLEY; OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHIELD FOR AUTOMOBILE HOODS.

Application filed January 20, 1928. Serial No. 248,024.

This invention relates to shields for automobile hoods.

In connection with the operation of automobiles, it has been found that in winter the louvers or slots in the side walls of the automobile hood housing the engine, which are normally designed to permit circulation of air within the hood to prevent overheating of the engine in ordinary temperatures. admit excessive amounts of cold air, which results in chilling or freezing of the motor. EX- perience has shown that by closing the louvers, much better operation of the motor is obtained, and the possibility of chilling or freezing of the cooling system of the motor is greatly reduced, sincethe entrance of the cold. air is prevented and the heat generated by the motor while operating is retained to a large extent within the hood; however, the louvers cannot be omitted or permanently closed, since if this were done at normal temperatures the motor would quickly become overheated.

.Anobject of my invention is to provide a shield of some light waterproof material, which may be disposed upon the inside of the hood soas to close thelouvers in the opposite side walls of the hood, and wherein means are employed for securing the shields in position, which may be readily applied and detached without the necessity of drilling holes or employing securing means requiring the use of special tools or mechanical skill. g

A more particular object of the invention is to provide shields, together with fastening means which are secured to the louvers of the hood and are instrumental in holding the shields tightly against the inside surfaces of the side walls of the hood in a position over the louver openings, so as to seal said openings, the fastening means including a simple turnbuckle arrangement whereby adjustments can be made without the use of tools for securely fastening the shields in position.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claim hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming part of the specification, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the hood of an automobile. showing the invention in position with respect to the louver openings at one side thereof. Figure 2 is a side elevational View of a fragment of the side Wall shown in Figure 1, viewing the walls being indicated by the reference char actor 11. Each of the side walls 11 is pro vided with a plurality of vertically disposed louvers 12, each of which consists of an outer edge 13 and an inner edge 14, the outer and inner edges being connected by means of the main curved body portion 15, which extends at an angle to the mam plane of the side wall 11, as best shown in Figure 3, the outer edge 13 and the inner edge 14 of adjacent louvers providing elongated openings 16.

As before stated, the slots '16 admit a large proportion of air, and are instrumental in providing a suction which "causes greater movement of air through the radiator when I the car is running. In order to close the slots 16, I provide a rectangular shield 17, which is preferably made up of asbestos, which is relatively stiff and of such size as to cover all of the louvers 12 and the slots 16 therebetween, and to project beyond the louvers at' the top, bottom, front and rear edges there of. Of course, it will be understood that the hoods of different automobiles var in size, and in the number of louvers provi ed'in the side walls of the hoods, and the size of the shield 17 will vary according to the size of the side wall and the number of louvers therein. The shield 17 is provided adjacent each end with a pair of vertically spaced slots 18-19.

(Jo-operating with the shield 17 to maintain the same in position, is a pair of clamping members 20 and 21. The clamping member 20 comprises a pair of rods 22 and 23. The inner end of the rod 22 is offset, as indicated at 24, and the offset end ortion 25 is threaded. The adjacent end 0 the rod 23 is also offset, as indicated at 26,-and the end thereof is provided with an enlar ed portion 27. A turnbuckle 28 has one end rotatably supported upon the end 26 of the rod 23, as indicated at- 29, the turnbuckle being held shield 17.

against disconnection from-the rod 23 by the ball enlargement 27. The opposite end of the turnbuckle is threaded onto the offset endportion 25 of the rod 2 1, as indicated at 30, The forward end of the rod 22 is provided with an inclined portion 31, which extends through the slot 18 at the forward portion of the shield 17, as best seen in Figure 3, the extremity of the inclined portion 31 being provided with a hook 32 which hooks over the inner edge 14 of the louver next to the one which merges with the forward portion of-the wall 11. T he portion of the rod 22, between the offset 24 and inclined portion 31, is of such character as to bear tightly against the inner surface of the The rod 23, at its rear end, is provided with an inclined offset portion 3d, of considerably greater length than the inclined portion 31, and the outer end of portion 34 is provided with a hook 35' adapted to be hooked over the outer edge 13 of the rearmost louver of the side wall 11. The intermediate portion of the rod 23, indicated 11 036, is adapted to bear tightly against the inner surface of the shield 17. The fastening member 21 is of the same character as fastening member 20, the fastening member 21 being engaged with the upper portions of the shield and louvers, while the fastening member 20' is engaged with the lower portion of the shield and of the louvers.

In operation, assuming the shield 17' to be in position, as shown in Figure 3, and it is desired to remove the same, the turnbuckle 28 may be rotated to such an extent as to in-.

crease the distance between the inner ends of the rods 22 and 23, thereby permitting the hooks 32 and 35 to be disconnected from the edges Hand 13 of the forward and rearmost louvers, respectively, it being particularly pointed out that the offset portions 2 1 and 26 provide plenty of clearance for rotation of the turnbuckle 28 without in any wise afiecting the holding properties of the clamping means, and the slots in the shield 17'permit such movement of the ends of the rods as is necessary for adjustment, and further permit COIH- plete detachment of the rods from the shield, as well as from the side wall of the hood. In applying the shield, it is only necessary to extend the hooks 32 and 35 through the slots in the shield 17 and engage the same with the proper edges of the front and rearmost louvers and tighten up the turnbuckle. It will be noted that the inclined portions 31 and 34: of the rods 22 and 23' vary considerably in length, so that the hook 32 may be readily engaged with the inner edge 14 of the front louver, while the inclined portion 34 is of greater length to enable the hook 35 to be engaged with the outer edge 13- of the rearmost louver. As before stated, by the provision of the offsets at the turnbuckle, the latter may be manipulated very readily and the intermediate portions 33 and 36 are drawn tightly against'the shield 17 in such position as to seal the slots 16 between the louvers and prevent air passing therethrough.

l i hile I have herein shown and described what I consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same ismerely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

1 claim:

As anart-icle of manufacture, aclamping device, comprising a pair of rods offset at their inner ends and provided with a turnbuckle, the outer end of one of said rods provided with a hook, and the outer end of the other of said rods being offset and provided with ahook. V

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of January, 1923.

EUGENE L. SHELLEY. 

